Adkins: Bottle the feeling

Following relegation out of the Barclays Premier League, manager Nigel Adkins says the players should bottle their emotions and use them as a motivator for next season.

Our demotion was confirmed after a 0-0 home draw with Queens Park Rangers, and both sides will now be playing in the Championship next season.

Adkins told Reading FC Player, "It was a very sombre mood in the dressing room after the game, and we need to bottle that experience up and make sure we never experience it again. We can look back over the course of the season and talk about any regrets we may have, but we'll come back in on Tuesday, we've got three more games to go in the Barclays Premier League and we've got to give ourselves an opportunity to win those games and get ourselves refocused.

"Obviously, we're going to be in the Championship next season but we've still got games in the Barclays Premier League, time on the training ground. Yes, there will be conversations going on with players. That will happen probably after the Fulham game.

"Everyone's focus and energies will be on getting ourselves ready for next season. Back in the Championship - but we were the Champions last season and what we've got to do is give ourselves an opportunity to get back in the Premier League because this is where we all want to be.

"It certainly has for me (enhanced the hunger). It's the best place to be. From my point of view there's going to be a desire, a hunger, a passion to make sure that we strive on. Obviously, lessons learned from this season in the Barclays Premier League are invaluable. We've got to utilise them, so that next season we give ourselves a chance to get promoted back to the Premier League. The lessons that we have learned can be implemented in a positive way.

"The supporters have been great. They've been great since I've joined and obviously towards the end we had a few oohs and aahs. The crowd got up and got behind the players which was important. It is challenging because we are at the wrong end of the table and we have been relegated. It's tough for the supporters to take. Obviously the euphoria from the last couple of seasons when they've been consistently winning - this season hasn't been the case. We've got to utilise this time so we can get a winning mentality back for next season and get a positive momentum so that we can get smiles on everyone's faces.

"I relish the challenge - I think everybody should go and do that. I'm going to take it on board with a positivity, a desire, a hunger, a passion. I love my football and what we've got to do is make sure we are together, driving in the same direction and looking to improve on all aspects of everything we do.

"The future of the football club is the youth coming through. Eamonn Dolan heads up the Academy structure here. All being well, we'll get EPPP1 category status. The under 18s won against yesterday against Manchester United and we've got some really talented players. What we've got to do is make sure there is a pathway for them to get into the first team. The principles and standards of play that we want, we want throughout the whole football club.

“And all being well, once we get back in the Premier League we'll be well equipped to give ourselves a situation where we don't get relegated.”